Imphal, Dec 4: Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen said if cooperative movement are successfully implemented in the state, the socio-economic condition of the masses will be increasingly developed. The Minister was addressing the gatherings as Chief Guest at the ‘Discussion for the Development of the Cooperative Societies, Manipur’ held today at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound, Imphal.

Nemcha highlighted that the cooperative sector has been playing a very important role in the socio-economic development of the country as a whole and it is necessary to promote the cooperative societies especially in areas where socio-economic developments still lag behind, especially in our state.

With a vision of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi who repeatedly emphasised on keeping ‘cooperative spirit’ alive and strengthened, the present government in Manipur inherited the legacy of a Cooperative departments that have many years of long pending problems and liabilities, with a sincere effort to improve and make the cooperative sector as active as it can be. She believed that once the State Cooperative Act are properly implemented, genuine and active cooperative societies can be promoted properly.

As stated by Nemcha, proposal has been already sent to the central government through DoNER to further develop cooperative sector in the state with the help ofIntegrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP)which is under National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

Cooperation Minister also lauded the Manipur State Cooperative Union (MSCU) for taking up the topic ‘Discussion for the Development of the Cooperative Societies, Manipur’ at this time and urged the union to take up such programmes in other districts too.

IT NewsImphal, Dec 4: Social Welfare Minister, Nemcha Kipgen today inspected the condition of Mangsatabam Meneka, a victim of first ever terrifying incident of acid attack in the state who is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS burn unit.Strongly condemning the heinous incident, Nemcha Kipgen assured to provide all possible assistance to the victim and her family.Speaking to the media persons, the Minister said that such heinous crimes is strongly condemnable and is the first of its kind ever committed in the state.The culprit who has committed such heinous crimes must be booked and befitting punishment should be given according to the law of the land, she added.The Minister also said that every possible help and assistance to the victim family will be provided from the state government side.

“Such heinous crimes in the state is very unfortunate and let’s hope that such crime never happen in the near future”, she added.The Minister visited Meneka at RIMS and expressed her deep sorrow of the incident.The Minister also gave financial assistance to Meneka.Mention may be that Mangsatabam Meneka (32 yrs), wife of Mangsatabam Santosh of Kurai Soibam Leikai Wangkhei Khunou was attacked by throwing acid while returning home in her two wheeler vehicle at Soibam Leikai Citizen Club area in Imphal-East at around 8:30 pm of November 29, 2017.The culprit who committed the heinous crime has been arrested on the day itself and has been identified as one Md Sahadat @ Tomba (22yrs), son of Md Azad Ali of Hatta Inta Khola in Imphal-East and is currently in police custody.Meneka who sustained burn from the acid on her right face and shoulder as well as some parts of her body is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS Burn Unit after being referred from JNIMS Hospital.

IT NewsImphal, Dec 4: A 25 member team of the Shiva Sena Manipur led by the state president Moirangthem Tombi is set to leave for New Delhi to apprise the Party MPs to let the Union government tabled the contents of the Framework Agreement to the floor of the Parliament before the upcoming Christmas or the Nagaland State Assembly Election.This was announced by the Party president of the state Unit Shiva Shena in a meeting with media persons at Manipur Press Club today. He said that the delegates of the state unit party will apprise the 22 MPs of the party to press the center for revealing of the contents of the Frame Work Agreement signed between the Government of India and the collective leadership of the NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015.
Lately during the inaugural function of the HornBill Festival, Indian President Ramnath Kovind had stated that a final solution is likely in the coming one or two months.The statement of the President had created apprehension to the people of the state on the possible outcome as no details on the framework agreement has been let known to the people of the state.

IT NewsImphal, Dec 4: All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union has stated that it will stage a sit-in-protest against the threat by BJP workers to their president. The journalists’ body said that they will jointly fight any attack to media fraternity in the state.

IT NewsImphal, Dec 4: An Improvise Explosive Device (IED) was triggered this morning near by a paddy field at Konthoujam Laingam village along the National highway 37 between Keithelmanbi and Khumbong.The powerful blast took place at around 9: 15 am. No human casualty was reported in the blast.
Source said that a convoy of 6 AR was on their way towards the blast site which suggested that the blast is an attempt to attack the troop. Security forces including state police rushed at the blast site.

IT NewsImphal, Dec. 4: Security forces apprehended two rebels of the NSCN (IM) from Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession yesterday. The two were terrorising people and extorting money, defence sources said.
Two women cadres of a proscribed militant outfit have been arrested in the hill district of Tengnoupal in Manipur. The two members of Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup were held during frisking at Tengnoupal Bailey Bridge. They were heading to Imphal from Moreh with the intent to carry out “illegal activities”, police said. Further investigation in this regard is underway

Imphal, Dec. 4: A drama titled “Atopa Shangsar Amada” scripted by K Radhakumar, Works & IPR Commissioner, that was dramatised and choreographed by META award nominee, Budha Chingtham and directed by founder of Ascent Repertory Theatre, Md.Juma Khan was premiered at Chandrakriti Auditorium Hall, Palace Compound on Dec 3.The premiere show was chaired by Dr. I.S. Kangjam as the Chief Guest and IPR Director, Meghahandra Kongbam as the President.The 7th production of Ascent Repertory Theatre- Atopa Shangsar Amada(All Possible Worlds), revolves around the dramatic monologue of a man in conflict with himself who sometimes relives both the past and the future. The protagonist of the play feels his life is seemingly unconnected but with an element of desire and hope and sees things-shadows and images. In the drama, he is deeply conscious of the endlessness of life-the reality of life before birth and after death haunts him that makes him run away from the social structure of human society.In his welcome note, Budha Chingtham stated that it was indeed a great challenge to convert the philosophical text of K Radhakumar embedded in different layers into pure dramatic form. The exercise needed unlocking of unused muscles and amazing creative abilities, he said.Giving a brief insight on the origin of Dadaism and Surrealism movements in France in relation with literature, art and drama, K Radhakumar tried to convince the gathering that the essence of drama is the make-believe world in which an actor impersonates the character of the play and success of a play lies when this world is able to create an impact on the minds of the audience.
He also pointed out that using infantile language that is a protest against all logic, institutional & value establishments and avoiding conscious mind-free from the exercise of reason paves the road for the search for truth and reality.He also said that in the present day where the role of multi-media comes into the picture, technology advancement makes us lack in human touch and coaching of youths in pronounciation & phonetics will produce desired results. “If we tap the energy of the youths in proper direction, we can compete with the entire world”, he stressed.Stating that the present day the advancement of theatre movements has its image also in Manipur, I.S. Kangjam appreciated the contributions of Ratan Thiyam(Chorus Repertory Theatre) & Heisnam Kanhailal(Kalakshetra) in putting Manipur on the global map in the realm of theatre. “The artists of the Ascent Repertory Theatre are experimental, diligent & endowed with lots of energy needed to display the required body movements of the play”, he also said.Meghahandra Kongbam lauded the literary works of K Radhakumar comprising weekly poetries in the Sangai Express amongst others despite his busy office schedule adding that he is a renowned writer with a Master’s degree in literature & writes in his own unique style.

Imphal, Dec. 4: Information and Public Relations Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh said the credibility of a media house lies in the accuracy and balance of its reports. The IPR Minister was speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the bilingual Aja Daily yesterday at the tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong.A media house, he said, losses its credibility if its reports are imbalanced and inaccurate.The media plays an important role in the society, he said, explaining that it sometimes play the role of a mediator between the public and the government. He continued that the media disseminates reports of the government’s policies and schemes for the people and at the same time bring to the notice of the government the opinions and views of the people through their editorial columns.The press plays an important role in the development of a society in a democracy, he said.
Minister Biswajit also lauded Aja for disseminating reports of happenings in the society to the people for such a long time.He also spoke on the need to open District Information Offices in all districts. Regarding construction of a Press Park he said a site has already been identified. He also spoke on the construction of a Press Colony.IPR Director Meghachandra Kongbam said editor of The Aja Daily, Valley Rose Hungyo is the only woman editor among all the daily newspapers published in the State. The Director also stressed on the importance of vernacular newspapers, and said vernacular newspapers played an important role in India’s freedom struggle. The celebration was also attended by Chingai A/C MLA Shri Khashim Vashum, The Aja Daily editor Valley Rose Hungyo, Editors’ Guild Manipur president A. Mobi, Editors’ Guild Manipur Secretary General Y. Rupachandra, Manipur Hill Journalist Union President Ramkung Pamei among others.

A seed once sown in a fertile place with favourable conditions will surely sprout, and even if a boulder is set upon it to retard or stop its growth, will surely wriggle its way out from under to find the light. This metaphor perhaps explains the unflinching resolve of the people of the state and the region of North East India in general to assert its rights and respect as equal citizens of the country.

The endless discriminations and unprovoked assaults on the people from the region in various places in mainland India is a clear manifestation of the distorted politics being propagated and practiced based on caste and communities. A concrete example is the attitude of some Chennai boys towards some NE girls watching a football match, who were later arrested by police.

The feeling of alienation, of not belonging and of being treated as less than equal by those residing in mainland India has been a pervading experience for us all.

With the kind of happening it is sometimes not wrong to say that North East is being viewed as a territory to be held secure purely for strategic reasons, while the inhabitants are mere incidental collaterals.

The long standing demand that can ensure the protection and preservation of the interests of indigenous inhabitants of the state is a sum effect of the protracted mistreatment and myopic view of those at the centre regarding the interests and aspirations of the people of the region.

Permit system which restrict entry of outsider has already been implemented at many of the North Eastern states including Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, and yet there has been an uninterrupted flow of visitors to these states, perhaps more so than Manipur in comparison which undeniably proved that the permit system for entry to states does not hamper the prospects of tourism in the state, nor will it pose any inconvenience or discomfort to any visitor.

The demand is only for the survival, preservation and continuity of our traditions, customs and communities. There were misunderstandings over this issue with some communities but as assumed it has been sorted by now.

It is known by everyone that the present danger of the state being overwhelmed and overpowered financially or territorially by forces which even the state government will find impossible to fend off, thereby relegating our cultural identity to mere history and our own people to a insignificant minority in its own land.

Moreover, the coming of act east policy is another factor that the state urgently requires some legislation to protect the indigenous people of the state

December 20, the winter session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly is going to start. It is time that the government prepared some kind of legislation for the protection of the people of the state after taking opinions of all stakeholders of the state.